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cutekorey19   cutekorey19 Korey Anthony Chisholm's TIGblog
Korey Anthony Chisholm's profile

Key messages to Advocate for STI’s, HIV and SRH and Young people
About this event: Young People Take The Lead. Stop AIDS

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Global and Regional messages
 Invest in youth leadership: Policies and programmes will be most effective if they involve young people meaningfully in all stages of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Governments must foster mentorship by initiating youth-adult partnerships, by building capacities for mentorship programmes, and by creating sustained spaces for youth participation. Furthermore, youth representatives must be chosen democratically by youth-led and youth-oriented organizations and networks. Advocating for (core) funding, mentorship and political will to support youth organizations and for greater partnership between young people and political leadership on STI’s, HIV and SRH, but it’s not just having a seat at the table –it is about making that opportunity legitimate, effective and representative for civil society participation.

 Address HIV in the context of other sexual and reproductive health needs: HIV does not occur in isolation. With HIV, young people often experience sexual assault, gender-based violence, maternal mortality, unsafe abortions and discrimination based on sexual orientation. Therefore, HIV must be seen and addressed not as an isolated problem, but in the context of young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.

 The realities of young people’s lives must be taken into account in program and policy development, and implementation: It is crucial to acknowledge the specific needs of marginalized young people who experience an increased risk of HIV transmission. The experiences and expertise of young people living with HIV (YLHIV), young men who have sex with men (MSM), young injection drug users (IDU), and young sex workers must be respected and included in program and policy development to ensure that they are relevant and effective. In many parts of the world, injecting drug use is fuelling concentrated epidemics. Young IDU’s need access to youth friendly harm reduction programs that include needle and syringe exchanges, information about sexual health, HIV prevention, treatment (including substitution therapy), and support to protect themselves and their sexual partners. Young people living with HIV must have access to anti-retroviral treatment and complete health education with respect to HIV and AIDS, so they are able to manage opportunistic infections and maintain their personal well-being. All young people have rights to information, education, services, and support, which they do not lose as a result of their HIV status.

 Take positive steps to promote and protect young people’s rights: The violation of young people’s rights puts them at greater risk of harm. The key to reducing vulnerabilities lies in the promotion and protection of these rights. Young people have all human rights irrespective of their age, gender, race or other status. These rights include the full range of their sexual and reproductive rights, including the right to be free from violence and persecution/stigmatization, and the right to confidentiality. These rights must be guaranteed regardless of HIV status.

Regional and Local messages
 HIV is transmitted primarily through sex: Young people’s access to comprehensive, evidence-based sex education and HIV prevention programs that are safe, confidential, welcoming, and free from stigma and discrimination are imperative in responding to the HIV epidemic. Young people must also have access to youth-friendly services for testing, treatment, and care from trained providers in convenient and affordable locations. Sexual and reproductive health knowledge gives young people the tools they need to make educated decisions regarding their own health and to prevent HIV infection. HIV should be discussed from a young age by families, schools, and communities so that young people grow into adolescence with an understanding of the virus and the vulnerabilities particular to young people specific to gender, age, location, and sub-population.

 Make health services more accessible to young people: Stigma, discrimination and lack of awareness contribute to making health services inaccessible to young people. Awareness must be raised about these services, and their use must be promoted by messages in local languages and popular means of communication. Spaces for young people must be established at existing service centers. Respect for confidentiality and privacy must be ensured at these spaces. Ensure access to comprehensive sexuality education. The provision of evidence based HIV prevention and comprehensive sexuality education is the most effective and sustainable mode of prevention. The best available evidence shows that “abstinence only” programmes fail and actually cause more harm than good. Young people must have the information, knowledge, skills and commodities they need to protect themselves from infection and to lead healthy lives.

 Young people need a supportive and enabling environment with social norms that reinforce positive behaviors across generations: Local and global communities, governments, civil society, and young people themselves have a responsibility to make this environment a reality. Young people’s experiences are diverse and many find themselves in circumstances that greatly limit their ability to practice safer sexual behavior, even with access to sexual health information. Poverty, gender inequality, racial and ethnic discrimination, homophobia and transphobia, education inequality, homelessness, substance abuse, transactional sex, and sexual violence must be addressed in partnership with young people. Clear, comprehensive data on how HIV affects young people is needed. In all national censuses and health surveys, data must at the minimum be disaggregated by age, sex and sub-population. Such data, once available, will inform policies and programmes making them more effective.

Global, Regional and Local message
 Young people Most-at-risk: Young people constitute a significant percentage of most-at-risk populations in several countries. Interventions should specifically target vulnerable and most-risk groups of young people who are often at the centre of HIV transmission. Many young people are particularly at risk of becoming infected with HIV because of the situations in which they live, learn and earn; as a result of the behaviors they adopt, or are forced to adopt because of social, cultural or economic factors. Limited amount of focus is placed on young people most-at-risk, which is a factor which is contributing to their vulnerability to HIV. The three groups most at risk of becoming infected with HIV: young sex workers, young injecting drug users and young men who have sex with men. Many of these young people live on the fringes of society, and are unlikely to be reached by interventions implemented through schools, health services or the media.

 Young people have knowledge, skills, and creative energy to make an invaluable contribution to the HIV and AIDS response, and must be involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of HIV and AIDS programs and policies that affect their lives. Young people must have access to capacity building and leadership opportunities to facilitate their active contributions and be trained and empowered with skills to spread the information they have gained to their peers. This is particularly true for those young people most affected by the epidemic.

 Criminalization of HIV - The evidence shows that criminalization of behaviors and communities (most-at-risk population). Many governments persist in implementing policies which have no proven public health benefits (travel and residency restrictions for PLHIV, mandatory testing for migrants denial of health care for prisoners in direct violation of prisoners rights and an over-simplistic and ideological approach to while law and policy reform were often cited as solution, law and policy reform won’t work if it is not enforced or the enforcers are the perpetration of violence.

April 2, 2009 | 1:34 PM Comments  1 comments

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cutekorey19   cutekorey19 Korey Anthony Chisholm's TIGblog
Korey Anthony Chisholm's profile

My Advocacy on Human Rights and HIV
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

It was clear that Dr Mann’s passion was equally inspirational to a younger generation who never knew him. UNAIDS Youth Research Fellow Korey Chisholm described how Dr Mann’s approach of explaining human rights simply and directly to all people will help him when he returns to his home country, Guyana, to build capacity among networks of sex workers and men who have sex with men. Chisholm noted how this approach will enable people to recognize their own rights and be stronger advocates.


December 10, 2008 | 6:59 PM Comments  0 comments



cutekorey19   cutekorey19 Korey Anthony Chisholm's TIGblog
Korey Anthony Chisholm's profile

New generation of health and human rights advocates inspired by Dr Jonathan Mann
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

“We have lost him, but we have not lost the legacy he left us,” said Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia of Dr Jonathan Mann, the visionary epidemiologist, advocate and scientist who highlighted the inextricable links between human rights and public health.

In commemoration of Dr Mann's untimely death ten years ago, and to celebrate his legacy and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNAIDS, WHO and OHCHR hosted “HIV, health and human rights: The Legacy of Jonathan Mann Today” on 24 November 2008.

The commemorative event brought friends and former colleagues of the late Dr Mann together with human rights, health and HIV practitioners for a moving tribute.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Dr Peter Piot, spoke of the significance of Jonathan Mann’s influence on shaping the early AIDS response. “If somebody else had been in charge of the global programme on AIDS, they would have created it with other ideas, with old-fashioned public health ideas, such as quarantine and forced testing. The response to AIDS would have been quite different, and it would have been catastrophic,” said Dr Piot.

Seeing the humanity of those affected and marshalling resources on their behalf

Dr Piot explained that Dr Mann was a leader in thinking of HIV as more than a virus, how he “would see immediately the societal and political implications” of the disease. “He was more like a chess player than anything else for knowing and anticipating the next move of the virus, as well as the people who didn’t want to deal with it,” said Dr Piot.

A compelling keynote speech was given by Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia who advised Dr Mann when he was director of the Global Programme on AIDS. Justice Kirby recalled Dr Mann’s conviction at their first meeting, “AIDS is a women’s issue…a women’s issue because of women’s disempowerment.”

Justice Kirby spoke movingly of Dr Mann’s inspiring leadership, and encouraged UN staff and other guests to continue Mann’s work with the same imagination and courage. He also took the opportunity to thank UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot for his own powerful leadership and strong support for human rights in the response to HIV.

A film on Jonathan Mann produced by The Face of AIDS and entitled “Jonathan Mann: Legacy of a Huma Rights Advocate” was premiered at the event. Footage included interviews from the late 1980s in which he explained the unique way in which AIDS both unveils and exacerbates previously existing disadvantage and social challenges, making human rights essential to any HIV response.

Dr Mann’s call for an understanding of the people behind the disease resonated throughout the discussion that followed, illustrating the ongoing significance of his message.

A panel of former peers, moderated by Kevin M. De Cock, Director of the WHO Department of HIV/AIDS reflected on the man they knew and brought his commitment alive for the 140 guests, who represented different generations in the AIDS response.

Jonathan’s tireless advocacy in promoting an inclusive response to HIV by involving people living with HIV, sex workers, people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men was highlighted as contributing to a seismic shift in the way the United Nations and the world responded to HIV .

“In his ear, the voice of a sex worker and the voice of a president had the same weight,” recalled Teguest Guerma, Associate Director of the HIV/AIDS Department at the WHO.

Daniel Tarantola, Professor of Health and Human Rights, University of New South Wales, Australia recalled the fundamental practicality of Jonathan’s message, “He was guided by the practical utility of human rights as a framework for responding to HIV.” He and Sophia Gruskin, Director, Program on International Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, both talked about Dr Mann’s incredible leadership in bringing together, for the first time, HIV and respect for human rights.

It was clear that Dr Mann’s passion was equally inspirational to a younger generation who never knew him. UNAIDS Youth Research Fellow Korey Chisholm described how Dr Mann’s approach of explaining human rights simply and directly to all people will help him when he returns to his home country, Guyana, to build capacity among networks of sex workers and men who have sex with men. Chisholm noted how this approach will enable people to recognize their own rights and be stronger advocates.

Today’s relevance of human rights to health and HIV

Jonathan Cohen from the Open Society Institute moderated a subsequent discussion on the ongoing relevance of human rights to health and HIV in light of some contemporary human rights challenges.

Cohen highlighted the similarity and urgency between Jonathan Mann’s key message in an article he published in 1988 entitled “Health and human rights: if not now, when?”, and the 2007 Declaration signed by over 600 organisations entitled “Human Rights and HIV/AIDS: Now More Than Ever”.

Mark Heyward who is the head of AIDS Law Project and the Deputy Chair of the South Africa National AIDS Council, called for a new direction in the AIDS response based on the recognition of human rights and highlighted the need to move beyond the rhetoric.

Challenging those present to remember Dr Mann’s words as if he were still live today, Gracia Violeta Ross Quiroga from the Bolivian Network of People with HIV/AIDS stressed that his message is as relevant now as it was then. “When did we lose the passion he brought?”

Ross also questioned how the discussion of HIV would be different if Dr Mann were still alive. As Dr Peter Piot pointed out, “Jonathan Mann saw beyond the health condition to the human being. He saw beyond the patient to a sick society”. The same need for such vision remains today.

The event was co-sponsored by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with guests from UNAIDS secretariat and cosponsors, the Global Fund, as well as other organizations and government missions.


December 10, 2008 | 6:00 PM Comments  0 comments



cutekorey19   cutekorey19 Korey Anthony Chisholm's TIGblog
Korey Anthony Chisholm's profile

HIV, Education and Young People Intervention
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Intervention on Education HIV and Young people
Honorable Ministries of education, Special representatives and invitee’s, members of the media, delegate’s all, it is a great honor to give an intervention on education HIV and young people, at the age of 16, I tested HIV positive, already introduced to the World of HIV I was positive in reacting to my status, many are not fortunate to be as positive as I, or to have self educate them self like I did.

Young people make up the face of the HIV and AIDS pandemic – they are both the present representatives of the segment of the population born into a world where it is a reality, and the future generation that will struggle if this reality is not adequately addressed.

HIV is an epidemic that demands a multi-sectoral, coordinated response that is both immediate and sustained. Childhood and adolescence are important periods for the development of people and their countries, and for this reason, it is necessary to provide quality education that includes comprehensive education on sexuality. To expand good-quality, youth-friendly sexual health education services, skills-based HIV education, and to strengthen reproductive and sexual health programmes in schools.

I feel education is the not only the key to prevention of HIV transmission but vital to treatment care and support for universal access for young people. HIV education in schools at an early age helps to replace stigma and discrimination with care and support, an educated populace on HIV will increase access treatment and care and will address HIV and Human rights.

Inclosing I charge you in your implementation of different strategies for inclusion of us young people in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for initiatives that will impact our wellbeing.

As we approach 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day with the theme keep the Promise – leadership, my key message today is to provide young people with knowledge and information and equip young people with life skills to put knowledge into practice to crate the right balance for change.

November 28, 2008 | 11:12 AM Comments  0 comments

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cutekorey19   cutekorey19 Korey Anthony Chisholm's TIGblog
Korey Anthony Chisholm's profile

ICC and UNAIDS celebrate partnership and look to future
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

English:
UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Michel Sidibé welcomed International Cricket Council President David Morgan to UNAIDS to discuss their continued partnership on AIDS. Geneva, 17 November 2008. Credit: UNAIDS/D. Bregnard The President of the International Cricket Council (ICC), David Morgan, today visited the UNAIDS Secretariat in Geneva where he was welcomed by UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Michel Sidibé.

In a meeting with UNAIDS and UNICEF staff the ICC President reaffirmed the Cricket Council’s commitment to the partnership which began in September 2003 when UNAIDS and ICC first teamed up to bring messages of HIV prevention to young people across cricket playing nations. In 2006 UNICEF also joined the partnership which now also supports the “Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS” campaign.

Michel Sidibé reviewed the global successes in the short history of this partnership where through high-profile international events as well as local initiatives, players as well as coaches have spread messages to dispel stigma and misplaced fear and misunderstanding about HIV. He also spoke about the importance of HIV prevention and support services reaching young people.

“We must focus on supporting and working alongside a new generation of young leaders in the AIDS response, including those living with HIV. The work of this partnership can be instrumental in this,” noted Mr Sidibé.

“I would especially like to congratulate the ICC leadership on its commitment to this work and personally thank you for your visit to UNAIDS today.”

A series of Public Service Announcements on HIV have been recorded by leading stars such as Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahendra Singh Dhoni for use in stadia at ICC Events and by broadcasters. Activities have taken place at international events including the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 2007. This has included leading players visiting local community projects and wearing red ribbons to show their support for people living with HIV.

A “Cricket HIV and AIDS curriculum” has been developed by the ICC and UNAIDS for players and coaches to help inform young people about HIV and how they can use their influence to make a positive change in their communities. Under the programme “The Captain’s Pledge,” Captains of all Test Cricket playing nations took part in a series of initiatives to help young people understand how HIV is transmitted.

Spirit of Cricket

An interactive discussion on strategic planning for the coming years was led by UNICEF Partnerships Manager, Andres Guerrero.

At the meeting, UNAIDS Youth Intern Korey Chisholm spoke of how sport can be a force for change through breaking down age barriers and building self-esteem. He thanked the ICC for replacing stigma with support. UNAIDS Intern Shashank Mane, from India, also shared his thoughts on the partnership:

“Looking at the influence of cricket in my life, I feel that UNAIDS and the ICC have a lot to offer each other, as well as the world, when it comes to connecting young people through sports with AIDS awareness.”

“The influence of cricket is growing around the world; unfortunately, AIDS continues to be transmitted as well. I could not think of a better way to spread HIV prevention messages and to eradicate HIV-related stigma and discrimination than through a partnership such as this one.”

------------------------------------------------------------
Franch: CPI et de l'ONUSIDA célébrer partenariat et de regarder vers l'avenir

ONUSIDA Directeur exécutif adjoint s'est félicité Michel Sidibé International Cricket Président du Conseil de David Morgan à l'ONUSIDA pour discuter de leur partenariat sur le sida. Genève, 17 Novembre 2008. Crédit photo: ONUSIDA / D. Bregnard Le président de l'International Cricket Council (ICC), David Morgan, a visité aujourd'hui le Secrétariat de l'ONUSIDA à Genève, où il a été accueilli par l'ONUSIDA, Directeur exécutif adjoint Michel Sidibe.

Lors d'une réunion avec l'ONUSIDA et le personnel de l'UNICEF le Président de la CPI a réaffirmé le Conseil de cricket de l'engagement au partenariat qui a commencé en Septembre 2003, date à laquelle l'ONUSIDA et le CIC première équipe pour apporter des messages de prévention du VIH aux jeunes de jouer au cricket à travers les nations. En 2006, l'UNICEF a également rejoint le partenariat qui soutient également la campagne «Unis pour les enfants, unis contre le sida» campagne.

Michel Sidibé a passé en revue les succès mondiaux dans la courte histoire de ce partenariat où par le biais de haut-profil événements internationaux ainsi que des initiatives locales, les joueurs ainsi que les entraîneurs ont diffuser des messages à dissiper les stigmates et la peur et l'incompréhension sur le VIH. Il a également parlé de l'importance de la prévention du VIH et des services d'appui pour atteindre les jeunes.

"Nous devons nous concentrer sur le soutien et la collaboration avec une nouvelle génération de jeunes chefs de file dans la lutte contre le SIDA, y compris ceux qui vivent avec le VIH. Les travaux de ce partenariat peut contribuer à cela », a noté M. Sidibé.

"Je tiens particulièrement à féliciter la direction de la CPI sur son engagement à ce travail et vous remercier personnellement pour votre visite aujourd'hui à l'ONUSIDA."

Une série de messages d'intérêt public sur le VIH ont été enregistrés par des stars comme Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara et Mahendra Singh Dhoni pour utiliser dans les stades à la CPI et des événements par des radiodiffuseurs. Des activités ont eu lieu lors d'événements internationaux, y compris la CPI Coupe du monde de cricket et la CPI Twenty20 mondiale de 2007. Cela a inclus des acteurs de premier plan de visite de projets communautaires locaux et le port de rubans rouges pour montrer leur appui aux personnes vivant avec le VIH.

A "Cricket le VIH et le sida curriculum» a été développé par la CPI et l'ONUSIDA pour les joueurs et les entraîneurs à aider à informer les jeunes sur le VIH et la façon dont ils peuvent user de leur influence pour faire un changement positif dans leurs communautés. Dans le cadre du program "The Captain's Pledge», les capitaines de tous les essais cricket nations ont pris part à une série d'initiatives visant à aider les jeunes à comprendre comment se transmet le VIH.

Esprit de Cricket

Un débat interactif sur la planification stratégique pour les années à venir a été dirigée par l'UNICEF partenariats Manager, Andres Guerrero.

Lors de la réunion, l'ONUSIDA jeunes stagiaires Korey Chisholm parle de la façon dont le sport peut être une force de changement par le biais de briser les barrières d'âge et de la construction d'estime de soi. Il a remercié la Cour pour remplacer l'opprobre avec l'appui. Stagiaire ONUSIDA Shashank Mane, de l'Inde, a également fait part de ses réflexions sur le partenariat:

"Vous recherchez à l'influence de cricket dans ma vie, je pense que l'ONUSIDA et la CPI ont beaucoup à offrir à l'autre, ainsi que le monde entier, quand il s'agit de connecter les jeunes par le sport, avec sensibilisation au sida."

"L'influence de cricket est de plus en plus dans le monde, malheureusement, le sida continue d'être transmis ainsi. Je ne pouvais pas imaginer une meilleure façon de diffuser des messages de prévention du VIH et d'éliminer la réprobation associée au VIH et la discrimination que dans le cadre d'un partenariat comme celui-là. "

November 17, 2008 | 12:00 PM Comments  0 comments



Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
~*~niki~*~'s profile

Global Warming

Since last week the stupid temperature's been yoyoing between 33 and 37 degrees here. I know I live in the tropics but damn, it's making me sick!

Clothing has become my greatest enemy and ice has become my favourite food. I don't even want
to leave my house with the comfort of my fans for the stupid heated outdoors.

It's still, it's hot and it's very dry. Today it rained and cooled the place down to 33.5 which felt really good after the temperature yesterday being around 35 degrees and very, very, dry. This must be what it feel like to live in a desert.

The best thing about it, is that I have an excuse to take 3 or 4 showers everyday. I know that's not environmentally friendly, but hey...I do less harm than a lot of people.

I miss the beautiful heavy rainfall, the type of rain that falls hard for hours and makes my whole country slow down for a while. I miss the kind of rain that makes some people feel cold. I dispise this pitiful excuse for rainfall that lasts for five minutes and dries off the ground in five minutes once the sun comes back out.

I suppose it's probably better without the heavy rain, I mean...this country floods in no time at all.

Found this webpage on the effects a 2 or 3 degree rise will have on the world. They forgot to say that weaklings such as myself who once passed out on her school field becuase of the heat will drop dead! Well...at least that's how I've been feeling for the past few weeks anyway.

Live Earth: What a Difference One Degree Makes : http://liveearth.uk.msn.com/green/articles/one_degree.aspx?imageindex=1

I'd love to take a vacation to...Iceland. The sound of the name alone is music to my hot ears...ICEland. I won't do that though...don't have any family there, I'd be all alone. Cooler...but all alone in a country I know nothing about.

I suppose I will just stay here and cook in my own sweat.

August 7, 2007 | 3:44 PM Comments  3 comments

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vmorris   vmorris Vanessa Morris's TIGblog
Vanessa Morris's profile

Good Things
Translations available in: English (original) | Spanish

"They say good things come to those who wait, but it's life that goes so fast."
It's a pleasure to be a part of this program.
Vanessa.

August 3, 2007 | 12:20 PM Comments  0 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
~*~niki~*~'s profile

After the storm

At the beginning of my exams I was so stressed out. I just wanted them to finish. Now that I only have another week to go Ive realised that I have no idea what to do with my life after.

I was planning on leaving my school and going to a provate school and studying just math and physics and learning some programming languages, but now I'm not so sure if that's really what I want to do. So Now I'm spending two more years...at my messed up school and studying human biology, chemistry, physics and math, and learning programming somewhere else.

I'd like to become either a computer engineer, programmer, or some kind of doctor. I'm not sure which.

I wish God would just speak to me and tell me what to do.

June 8, 2007 | 10:44 PM Comments  0 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
~*~niki~*~'s profile

Exams

Exams are painfull. They're damaging me. They're destroying my mind and all the things that once made me a happy carefree simple person. Now My life is filled with anxiety, nervousness and oversensitivity. I'm just not me.
I want them to end. I want them to go away. I wish I had defied the teachers since they lead me the wrong way. They lead me to do subjects that only had me going to after school classes because there were not teachers in school. They made me become a teacher because some of the teachers I do have don't even show up to class.
I hate being my own teacher. But I'm a lot better than they are because I at least know what I'm doing.

May 12, 2007 | 8:06 PM Comments  0 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
~*~niki~*~'s profile

Christmas In Guyana
Related to country: Guyana


In my country you can hear Christmas carols playing as early as November. You hear them on televison advertisements. Down town suddenly starts getting busier and busier with each passing week until December when it's hard to walk down the sidewalks.
People generally "Break up house" I think that's what they call it. I never took part in it so I never did care what it's called. It's when they polish their houses from top to bottom. I have to do this every week since lots of things make me ill, so I don't do any kind of "Christmas Cleaning" When the house is cleaned it gets new curtains and carpets and decirations and appliances.

Now this is the part that really gets me angry. People who cannot afford it go and buy things for their houses on hire purchase and use it over Christmas because a certain store has this offer every year where you pay nothing down until the next year. So they but appliances they cannot pay for. They will buy from other places too of course. Then they buy so much food and a whole lot of presents for people they don't even like and go out shopping for things for the house like artificial flowers and ornaments and they finish their money on such unnecessary things when they know that the next paycheck is not until the end of January for those who are paid monthly. Children get hungry, parents get angry and business is bad during January because these people are broke.

Nothing sickens me at Christmas like the way people waste. Families cook so much food. A small family will probably cook enough to feed a street. They don't finish their food and end up throughing it all away. Why is it in a world with so much poor people, that the rich and middle classed have to be throughing food away. Why is it that some parents allow their little children to stuff theselves to death while some parents have to watch their babies starve? I think it's evil.

We do have some wonderful traditions here though. We have masquerade bands on the roads dancing and playing flutes in bright colourful costumes. Families cook some of the best food in the world. Many people spend Christmas in church, which is usually a good place. We have stretched out magazine where the media mocks the politicians, and everything they've done for the year. Families start to talk to each other at least for a bit, and I don't know about anyone else really but I appreciate any moment I can spend with my family.

Today I did what I always do on Christmas, cook, eat, deliver presents to the kids next door. Tomorrow I get to go see my beloved uncle and his family. And in just over a minute I hope to be asleep.

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to you.
Thank you for reading my post.

December 25, 2006 | 9:20 PM Comments  0 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
~*~niki~*~'s profile

Life
Related to country: Guyana


I'm having a really happy weekend. It's really happy because I'm spending it with people. I've been calling my family, and talking to friends. Today a friend of mine and I went out to the Botanical Gardens for a walk and we met some people there, just by chance actually. They were there playing some sports then they came over to the table where my friend and I were sitting and started playing dominoes.
We watched couples together at the gardens and we wtched people going to take pictures at their weddings. We saw small weddings and big ones, seven weddings in all and eleven couples. Then I went to church and learned to play Shout to The Lord on the steel pan.

The happiest times in my life are when I'm with the people I love and care about. All my troubles just seem to fly away when I'm with nice people. I even got friendlier over the weekend. It's amazing what a little rest and relaxation will do.


December 16, 2006 | 7:50 PM Comments  0 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
~*~niki~*~'s profile

Elections
Related to country: Guyana


The elections in my country is set for August 28th.
Recently in the Newspaper, GECOM ( Guyana Elections Comminssion)has been asking for volunteers to "observe the elections." What they, mean...when you read through the details, is that they would like people from different communities to be on the watch for any violence and notify them when it starts.
We always have violence around elections time. I'm old enough to only remeber two. In both of them, there was looting, people setting fires, lots of protesting againt something or the other, people didn't want to get out of their houses because of what was going on in the streets and lots of shops and most market stalls were closed.
I was told it was more chaotic in the 1960's.
My country has six races and lots and lots of mixed people. Around elections though the Africans and Indians tend to separate. It's really very sad.
It's told that a lot of people, especially Indians vote racially. I once saw on a television program, and Indian lady complaining about the government and how they're no good, they're currupt, they mae promises that they don't keep, the country's going backward....
So the man interviewing her asked why he still wants to vote for them, she said "I don't want no black man run we"
There's a new party whose motto is "Vote Change not Race"
Good luck to them.

Personally I believe that our county needs to get rid of he two major parties. People complain about life under the governanace of both so it's proof that neither are all that good, and most of the violence which goes on during election time is because of one party's supporters wanting to hurt the others.

Thn there's the violnce after the election when supporters of the loosing parties start to riot and protest and loot and shoot...

July 30, 2006 | 3:40 PM Comments  0 comments

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honeybgirl2003   honeybgirl2003 honeybgirl25's TIGblog
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Still I Rise

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

July 24, 2006 | 4:23 PM Comments  0 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
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Life

I never understand why people say “Life is short” What does it mean? Does anyone take more time doing anything but living?
I go to high school, so the most common philosophy is “Life sucks.” But I’ve come to realize that when you keep telling yourself that life suck all the time…your life will suck. I believe that people make their lives hard and stressful. I mean, there are so many things that we cannot change but still worry about all the time.
Worry kills.
Seriously!
Self hatred kills too.
I go to a church with a lot of old people. They’re always complaining abut how they’re getting older. I don’t know if they’ve realized this, but it’s bound to happen. From the moment you are born you begin to age.

Why do people so often lose sleep over things they cannot change? I know a few people, who are always thinking about people they cannot get. I mean, you can’t help who you like, but you shouldn’t go running after them if they’re not interested in you. There are so many people in this world. There will b someone else, just as soon as you stop stressing over something you cannot change.

No one can change the past, yet so many of us worry about what happened before. Our past holds us back. All the “should not haves” and “I wish I didn’t” or “I could have…would have” doesn’t change what happened. Why can’t people just move on?

June 28, 2006 | 11:50 AM Comments  1 comments

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Niki   Niki ~*~niki~*~'s TIGblog
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Sucking the Christ Out of Christmas and Easter
Related to country: Guyana


School closed last friday and I've been watching tv everyday since last tuesday. What do I keep seeing? "The Party starts tomorrow Good friday! Hits and Jams Party! Come down to Club Avalanche For the Two day Party this Easter Sunday and Monday! Easter blowout sale! Look your best this Easter! Keeping you Stylish this Easter!"
So I'm sitting wondering when Eater became some jump-up party down holiday, which was just another excuse to not have to go to work.
My people love to commerialise everything. And we love to make profit from everything. I mean, just a few years ago there was that boring ritual of kids flying kites. There are usually lots of kites selling all over around this time of year. I haven't seem very much this year. It seems like they were replaced by clothes. So many places are advertising all the discounts they have this Easter. Commercials telling people that these stores are here to help you look "good" for easter...but of course you have to pay them first.
Whatever happened to church? I mean, once upon a time people celebrated things like Christmas and Easter in church. Since when do we celebrate the birth, death and resurection of our saviour dancing to Beenie and Elephant man and the likes. Not that I go to church, but at least I don't be calling myself no Christian. I believe in God and Jesus Christ, I also believe that religious holidays...all religious holidays should be sacred.
Why is Yuman Nabi so quiet andpeaceful, is there just more respect for Islam than Christianity here?
I cannot say that I am not guilty of all this. Last year my school held it's first PTA Christmas concert where I helped to Capitalise on our Lord's Holiday. I danced and modeled. I was just happy to finally get a chance to learn how to wacky dip, do sesame street and some other dancehall moves. I'm clearly part of the problem, but I like to say that I am a victim of my surroundings.
Needless to say, Christmas here is just as bad. I will never understand why Guyanese people get so Christmas crazy. They spend thousands of dollars christmas time on presents, and redoing there house and cooking way too much traditional food, drinking lots of alcohol. Everyone must eat, and everyone's drinks, adults and children.
I'm not very religious, I like to learn a much as I can about evry religion which believes in a God and live according to almost all of their principles. Even though I'm not very religious, I know this is not how theses holidays were meant to be celebrated. Where's the religion, and the sacredness? Aren't these supposed to be holy days?

April 13, 2006 | 7:33 PM Comments  0 comments

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